This spiced Gin Fizz cocktail features homemade simple syrup, fresh orange juice and one egg white. The egg white balances the sweetness and gives the cocktail a smooth texture and deliciously frothy topping!
originally published 11.01.2019
Move over gin and tonic, I’ve met my new favorite cocktail: the Gin Fizz. In our Gin Fizz recipe, the classic cocktail gets a festive makeover with the addition of fresh orange juice and a homemade spiced cranberry simple syrup, crowned with a luscious, frothy egg white topping!
Gin Fizz Ingredients
A traditional Gin Fizz recipe calls for gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white and soda water. This festive Gin Fizz variation gets a makeover by replacing the lemon juice with orange juice and using a spiced cranberry simple syrup. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Gin
- Orange juice
- Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup
- Egg white
- Soda water
And while a classic Gin Fizz is garnished with a lemon slice, we like to use cranberries and star anise for this holiday-inspired version!
A note on egg whites. The cocktail’s smooth, frothy texture comes from the egg white. When properly handled, the risks of consuming egg whites in cocktails are minimal. That being said, we still like to use pasteurized eggs. The pasteurization process kills bacteria, but also results in a less flavorful egg. For us the benefits outweigh the costs, but you can decide for yourself! And if you can’t find pasteurized eggs, we’ve found that boxed liquid egg whites work well (although we do need to shake them a bit longer).
Step By Step Instructions
How to Make Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup
To make the simple syrup, start by heating a cup (240 ml) of water and a cup (200 g) of sugar over low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and then toss in your spices and a cup (100 g) of cranberries — fresh and frozen both work well!
Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes or until most of the cranberries burst. Then remove from heat and use the back of a spoon to mash the cranberries — we want them to release all of their juices. Now just strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth and let it cool to room temperature before using!
How to Make a Gin Fizz Cocktail
This gin fizz cocktail recipe can be made in three easy steps:
- Combine the gin, orange juice, spiced simple syrup and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Dry shake (this just means without ice) the mixture vigorously.
- Add ice and shake. Continue shaking until well-chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a glass, top with soda water and enjoy!
A Gin Fizz with egg white is typically served in a highball or Collins glass, but I opted for a coupe glass here for a more festive presentation.
FAQs
We prefer a London Dry Gin, such as Tanqueray or Beefeater, for this Gin Fizz recipe. They’re both good-quality gins that are reasonably priced.
Yes! Omitting the egg whites will give you a cocktail without the creamy frothiness, but the soda water will still add a bit of fizziness.
A Tom Collins is made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and soda water. There is no egg white and it is often garnished with a lemon or orange slice and maraschino cherry.
A Gin Sour is a mixture of gin, lemon juice and simple syrup. It does not contain soda water and lacks the fizziness of a Gin Fizz.
Expert Tips
- Use fresh orange juice. Freshly squeezed orange juice will give this Gin Fizz recipe a brighter flavor.
- Chill the glasses. Place empty glasses in the freezer for 15-30 minutes before using to ensure your cocktail stays nice and cold. If you’re short on time, try adding ice water to the glass for a few minutes and then pouring it out before making the cocktail.
- Use pasteurized egg whites. If you’re concerned about using raw egg whites, you can use pasteurized egg whites, which have been treated to prevent the risk of foodborne illnesses.
- Adjust sweetness to taste. Control the sweetness of your drink by adding more or less simple syrup.
Cocktail Variations
And if you’re looking to switch things up, make sure to try out these Gin Fizz variations:
- Sloe Gin Fizz. A Sloe Gin Fizz is made with sloe gin, which is made from sloe berries. Sloe gin can be sweeter than regular gin, so adjust the simple syrup to taste.
- Ramos Gin Fizz. A Ramos Gin Fizz (also called a New Orleans Fizz) is a Gin Fizz variation that includes heavy cream, egg white and orange flower water.
For more cocktail inspiration, check out these recipes:
- chocolate martini
- harvest moon | spiced apple cider rum cocktail
- honey absinthe mojito
- vin d’orange | winter citrus fortified wine
- fruit infused vodka: three flavors
Cranberry Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 1
Description
This Gin Fizz recipe features fresh orange juice and an easy homemade spiced cranberry simple syrup!
Ingredients
For One Cocktail
- gin 1.5 oz (50 ml)
- orange juice 1 oz (30 ml)
- simple syrup 1 oz (30 ml)
- (recipe for spiced cranberry simple syrup below)
- egg white* 1 large
- soda water to taste
Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup
- water 1 c (240 ml)
- sugar 1 c (200 g)
- cranberries 1 c (100 g)
- cinnamon 1 stick
- star anise 2 whole
- fresh ginger 1.5 inch (3-5 cm)
Instructions
Spiced Cranberry Simple Syrup
- Heat the water and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the cranberries, cinnamon stick, star anise and ginger and simmer over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst. Remove from heat and thoroughly mash the cranberries with the back of a spoon to release the juices.
- Strain the syrup and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Spiced Gin Fizz
- Add the gin, orange juice, simple syrup and egg white to a cocktail shaker and vigorously dry shake (without ice) for 20 seconds.
- Add 5 ice cubes to the cocktail shaker and continue shaking until well-chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled glass and top with soda water.
Notes
Egg whites: I recommend using pasteurized eggs in this recipe if you have any concerns about consuming raw eggs. Pasteurized eggs have been treated to eliminate the risk of foodborne illnesses.
- Category: drinks
- Method: cocktail
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: gin fizz, spiced gin fizz, cranberry simple syrup
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